Massage appliance.



PATENTED DEC. 13, 1904.

G RIGOLA MASSAGE APPLIANCE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 31, 1904.

N0 MODEL.

W/WKJJKJ: flax Sra'res Patented December 13, 1904.

PATENT FFICE.

reassess APPLuANoE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.

#177,143, dated December 13,190a.

Application filed May 31, 1904. Serial No. 210,429. (No model.)

To all whom it may conccrm Be it known that I, CAMILLo RIeoLA, a subject of the ,King of Italy, residing in Bournemouth, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in and Relating to Massage Appliances, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in and relating to massage appliances; and it has for its object to provide a means designed to be used in conjunction with a roller or rollers, whereby the skin during the massaging operation may be kept suitably moistened by means of an emollient or other fluid which may be supplied to the roller or rollers at will.

The invention comprises a receptacle, preferably of semicircular cross-section, within which is placed a piece of sponge or other absorbent material, and which sponge or the like is designed to retain a supply of the liquid to be applied to the rollers and by them transferred to the skin duringthe massaging operation. The receptacle is supported at one end of an arm formed of thin metal or other suitable material and is arranged so that normally the open portion faces the rollers, with the absorbent material in close contiguity to the peripheries thereof. When in the position referred to, the axes respectively of the rollers and the receptacle are parallel. The lower end of the arm carrying the receptacle is pivotally connected to a spring-collar upon the handle of the device and by means of which collar the arm is capable of being retained in a position to bring the receptacle opposite the rollers or at right angles to this position for the purpose of removing the absorbent material or applying the emollient or other liquid thereto. I The rollers, which may be of any convenient form and of any suitable material, either covered or plain, are supported between the arms of a fork-shaped frame of ordinary form provided with a shank, to which is secured a handle. A button is provided upon the arm carrying the receptacle for the convenience of pressing the al sorbent material upon the rollers to vary the quantity of moisture applied to the skin.

In order that the invention may be the better understood, drawings are appended, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a massaging device to which the invention is applied. Fig. 2 is a front view, the arm being partially rotated to expose the front of the receptacle carrying the absorbent n'iaterial. Fig. 3 is a transverse section through the upper end of the device. Fig. i is a sectional plan illustrating a means for retaining the arm in either of its two terminal positions. Fig. 5 is an elevation of Fig. 4..

Referring to the acconnntnying drawings, 1 indicates a frame supporting a pin 2, upon which are freely mounted a number of rollers 3 and spacing-washers 4. A shank 5 is socured to the frame which at its lower end is secured to a handle 6. In the present instance a number of rollers are employed; but it will be evident that any convenient number of rollers may be substituted for the four shown upon the drawings and also that the outline and material or materials of which the rollers are formed may be varied at will. The lower end of the shank 5 is provided with an enlargement 7, to which is secured, by means of a rivet 8 or other suitable means, a short sleeve 9, from which a section has been removed, as shown in Fig. 4:. A tang (not shown) is provided for the attachment of the handle 6. Pivotally connected to the enlargement? by means of a screw 11 is the lower end of an arm 12, formed of thin metal or other suitable material. The end of the arm is squared and has one of the corners 13 thereof rounded, as shown clearly in Fig. 5. The arm when the instrument is ready for use occupies a position such that one of its longer sides abuts against the edge of the sleeve 9, as shown in Figs. l and 5. By this means the arm is maintained in position during the massaging operation. Should it, however, be desired to alter the position of the arm, it may be rotated upon the screw 11, the rounded portion aforesaid during the movement of the arm coming into contact with the edge of the sleeve 9 and pressing against the same.

Secured to the opposite end of the arm 12 is a receptacle 14: of semicircular section and designed to contain a piece of sponge 15 or other absorbent material, which is retained in position by means of the longitudinal projections 16. The movement of the arm, as previously described, brings the receptacle thereon either into close contiguity with the rollers, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, or into a posi- 5 tion clear of the said rollers, where it is readily available for removing or treating the absorbent material.

In order that the amount of moisture supplied to the skin may be varied at will, a button 17 is secured to the arm, which when the device is held in the hand may be pressed by the thumb or finger, causing the absorbent material to bear to a greater or less degree upon the rollers, accordingly as the pressure is varied. To limit the degree of pressure that may be exerted upon the arm, a collar 18 is formed upon the shank, against which the arm bears when the limit of compression has been reached.

It will be readily understood from the foregoing description that when in use the rollers may be kept supplied with moisture, the quantity of which may be varied at will.

it is obvious, although 1 have described and illustrated a certain specific arrangement and form of parts, giving a practical expression of 'the invention, that I may vary the same in accordance with the particular form of roller employed and in accordance with varying sizes and requirements of the massaging appliance to which the invention may be applied without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of mysaid invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim isl. ln a massage appliance, the combination with a plurality of rollers, of means for supporting said rollers, a receptacle for containing an absorbent adapted to be saturated with a liquid to be supplied to said rollers and means to support said receptacle.

2. In a massage appliance, the combination with a plurality of rollers, of means for supporting the same, a receptacle provided with an absorbent material adapted to be charged with a substance to be applied to said rollers, and a spring member for holding said receptacle.

3. In a massage appliance, the combination with a plurality of rollers, of a frame in which said rollers are mounted, a receptacle provided with an absorbent material adapted to be saturated with a suitable substance to be applied to said rollers, a spring-arm for holding said receptacle and which may be so manipulated as to press said absorbent material against the rollers, said arm being also adapted to swing in a plane transverse to the plane of pressure.

4. In a massage appliance, the combination with a frame, a plurality of rollers rotatably mounted therein, a flexible arm pivotally attached to said frame, a receptacle carried by said arm and adapted to contain an absorbent material to be charged with liquid, said absorbent material being adapted to convey liquid to the peripheries of the rollers, said arm being adapted to be so pressed as to bring the absorbent material against the rollers, and means whereby the deflection of the arm may be limited.

ln witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

CAMILLO RIGOLA.

itne sses ARTHUR W. J or, E. 'l. GAZE. 

